About airline or Airmiles credit cards

Often referred to as airmiles credit cards, airline credit cards are simply another type of reward card. You can collect 'Avios' points through stores and banks such as Tesco, Lloyds TSB, and Marks and Spencer, and they can be redeemed on things like flights, hotel stays, or even tickets for gigs and theme parks.

What are airline or Airmiles credit cards?

Airline credit cards are reward-based credit cards which allow you to earn points, or 'Avios' - the new replacement scheme for Airmiles - when used for purchases. Points can be collected via stores and financial providers such as Tesco, Lloyds TSB, and Marks and Spencer.

Unlike with Airmiles, the Avios scheme lets you use points for one-way flights and some flights in and out of different airports.

Should I get an Airmiles credit card?

Airline credit cards are only suitable if you’re able to pay your balance in full every month. Some cards also come with hefty annual fees of up to £150, though these cards normally offer higher rates of reward.

How to collect Airmiles?

One of the best-known ways to earn Airmiles or Avios is to make regular flights, but airline credit cards are another great way to get Airmiles — and you can do so just with your regular spending.

If you have an airline credit card you can collect Airmiles whenever you make an eligible purchase on your card. You will earn a set number of points depending on what you spend, for example 1 Avios point for every £1 you spend on the card.

Most airline credit cards will allow you to earn Airmiles for virtually any purchase on your card — the standard exceptions include foreign exchange and any spending in excess of your credit limit.

Some airline credit cards will offer bonus miles simply for activating the card or making your first purchase. You can also earn bonus Avios points for hitting certain spending triggers, for example if you spend £10,000 in the first year of card use.

Some airline rewards schemes also let you earn Airmiles by opening a savings account linked to your card. These sometimes work by paying ‘interest’ in miles instead of cash.

Does uSwitch compare all the credit cards on the market?

We compare credit over 100 credit cards from all of the major banks and credit card providers.

However, we do not compare all the credit cards that are available in the UK.

This is because some credit card providers have offers that are only available exclusively through their own website or branch, or through other comparison websites - in the same way some credit cards are exclusively available through uSwitch.

There are also many credit cards that are only available to people in member organisations and clubs.

What does it mean if a card is listed as an “advertisement” or “promotion”?

We sometimes receive payment from card providers to display their cards in prominent locations.

These are adverts and are designed to be distinct and separate from the other cards on our comparison tables. We hope this makes it clear which cards are top-of-table deals and which cards are paid for promotions.

uSwitch Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under firm reference number 312850. You can check this on the Financial Services Register by visiting the FCA website.